Ep 272 Amanda Lucia – The Cultural Politics of Yoga

In this thought-provoking episode of the Keen on Yoga Podcast, host Adam interviews Amanda Lucia, professor of religious studies at UC Riverside and author of *White Utopias*, a critical examination of modern yoga’s cultural politics. Lucia shares her immersive research journey across 140 yoga festivals from 2011 to 2019, including Bhakti Fest, Wanderlust, Lightning in a Bottle, and Burning Man, revealing the predominantly white, often exclusionary nature of these spaces. She challenges the myth of yoga as a neutral, universal practice, arguing that its global popularity is deeply entangled with whiteness, Orientalism, and cultural appropriation. Lucia emphasizes that while many white practitioners are sincere in their spiritual seeking, their practices often involve a romanticized, extractive engagement with Indian and Indigenous traditions—projecting solutions onto the 'other' while erasing the very people they claim to honor. She critiques the commodification of yoga, the erasure of Indian Hindus from its branding, and the rise of 'woo-woo' spiritual consumerism. Yet she also affirms the genuine transformative power of yoga festivals, where communities forge alternative futures through collective creativity and self-reinvention. Lucia reflects on how her work evolved amid the racial reckoning of 2020 and the increasing presence of fringe ideologies within the yoga world, underscoring the need for ongoing critical engagement. Her upcoming book on gurus, abuse, and legal contestation promises to continue this vital exploration of power and spirituality. Key takeaways include: 1) Modern yoga festivals often function as racially homogenous, exclusionary spaces despite their claims of inclusivity; 2) The romanticization of India and Indigenous cultures enables cultural appropriation and obscures real-world struggles; 3) Authentic spiritual practice must be rooted in respect, reciprocity, and accountability—not consumption; 4) The commercialization of yoga has led to a loss of depth and a rise in superficial, commodified spirituality; 5) True inclusivity requires confronting structural inequities and centering marginalized voices, not just welcoming them to the door; 6) The spiritual quest of white practitioners is valid but must be examined through the lens of historical power imbalances; 7) Cultural exchange is not inherently problematic, but extractive, possessive, and unacknowledged appropriation is; 8) The future of yoga depends on humility, collaboration, and a commitment to justice.